Pottstown man left ID behind during attempt to pass a bogus check

NORRISTOWN — A Pottstown man’s identification card was his downfall after he left it behind at a borough bank where he tried to cash a bogus check, allowing police to ID him as an attempted thief.

Michael Bearden, 44, told a judge “stupidity,” among other things, led to his criminal behavior and pleaded guilty to felony charges of attempted theft by deception and receiving stolen property in connection with the July 2012 incident at First Niagara Bank on Shoemaker Road.

Montgomery County Judge Wendy Demchick-Alloy, who accepted a plea agreement in the case, sentenced Bearden to 11˝ to 23 months in the county jail, to be followed by three years’ probation.

“Besides stupidity?” Bearden, who has previous convictions for drug-related offenses, reacted when the judge asked him why he continues to commit crimes. Bearden added he has battled a cocaine problem in the past and has been in an out of county and state prisons for previous crimes.

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“You have to make it stop. You’re still here. You’re still on this earth and you can change your life. Think about it when you lay your head on the pillow at night in jail. It’s time to stop already. You’re 44 years old,” Demchick-Alloy said to Bearden, warning him that if he violates the most recent sentence, she will send him to state prison.

The judge ordered Bearden, who listed an address in the 200 block of Oak Street, to undergo psychological and drug and alcohol evaluations and to abide by any recommendations for treatment. Bearden thanked the judge for her time and expressed a willingness to turn his life around.

With the charges, authorities alleged Bearden entered the bank on July 27 and attempted to cash a $2,644 check, from an area business, on which there was a stop payment issued. Bearden allegedly told the bank teller, who questioned him about the nature of the check, that he had done work for the business.

The teller notified bank officials upon noticing the signature didn’t match the account signers on file. Bearden apparently got nervous or grew weary about being questioned and left the bank, leaving behind his Pennsylvania ID card and a pair of gloves on the counter.

“He left his photo identification with the bank teller and that is how law enforcement was easily able to identify him,” said Assistant District Attorney Kathleen Colgan, who sought a jail sentence against Bearden while noting his previous criminal record. “He clearly has not learned from his past mistakes and recidivism is a continued problem for him.”

The investigation determined that the company check was one of several that had been reported missing and that Bearden was not employed by the company and there was no reason for him to possess a check from the company.

Bearden’s legal problems are not over.

Bearden is still awaiting trial on charges of promoting prostitution and drug offenses in connection with an alleged July 14, 2012, incident. Authorities alleged Bearden took $40 from an undercover police officer after agreeing to provide a female to perform oral sex on the officer, according to court records.

According to Pottstown police, someone called the police station to report possible prostitution in the 300 block of King Street around 4 p.m. July 14. Police were told a woman was with a man, later identified as Bearden, who appeared to be “pimping” the woman out. An undercover police officer responded to the area and made contact with Bearden, court papers indicate.